2011 AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 9, 2011) - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce that Concordia University, St. Paul head women's volleyball coach Brady Starkey has been selected as the 2011 AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year, while University of Tampa associate head volleyball coach Jeff Lamm has been named the AVCA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year.

2011 was another in a string of banner years for Starkey and his Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears. With a final record of 34-2 and a national championship banner to hang, the Golden Bears continue to showcase their dominance of NCAA Division II competition. It is the fifth consecutive national championship for Concordia University. Starkey also recorded his 300th win during the season, and finished 2011 with a career winning percentage of 92.1%.

Starkey's tenure at Concordia University, St. Paul has been nothing short of remarkable. He took the reigns as head coach in 2003 after serving for three years as an assistant coach within the program. The Golden Bears once again steamrolled their way through the postseason, continuing a string of four straight undefeated postseason years. In fact, the Golden Bears dropped only one set in any tournament match, plowing their way to a championship with impressive efficiency.

The Golden Bears posted a record of 18-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, good enough for a share of the NSIC conference championship, the ninth straight season that the Golden Bears can lay claim to the trophy. Under Starkey, Concordia University has dropped only four NSIC matches and recorded five undefeated conference seasons. In fact, since Starkey was named head coach, his team has never failed to bring home the NSIC crown.

This season, the Golden Bears placed four players on the AVCA Central All-Region team and Katie Habeck was named the Central Region Freshman of the Year. Starkey was also tabbed as the Central Region Coach of the Year. In addition, three of the players were named to the AVCA National All-America First-Team and one to the second-team. This is the fourth straight year that the Golden Bears have placed at least four players on the AVCA All-America rosters. Since 2003, Concordia University has had 36 AVCA All-Americans pass through their ranks.

Starkey has been awarded Region Coach of the Year award seven times and was named as the AVCA National Coach of the Year following championship seasons in 2007 and 2010.

As the associate head coach at the University of Tampa, Jeff Lamm helped guide the Spartans to a 33-2 overall record and a third place final ranking in the AVCA Coaches Top-25 poll. As national semi-finalists, the Spartans were the only team to win a set against the eventual champions from Concordia University. The 2011 season was Lamm's 10th as an assistant at the University of Tampa and his 17th year of coaching at the club, high school and collegiate levels. Overall, the Spartans have posted a record of 397-42 during his tenure. They won their seventh straight Sunshine State Conference Championship and have recorded over 30 wins in five of the previous six seasons.

The AVCA will formally present both coaches their awards at the 2011 Jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in San Antonio, Tx., on Thursday, December 15. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 2011 AVCA Annual Convention.